06-R 192

2006 -- H 7972

Enacted 04/06/06

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2006 TO BE "MINORITY HEALTH AND

HEALTH DISPARITIES MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Almeida, Williams, Diaz, and Fox

Date Introduced: April 06, 2006

      WHEREAS, In 1992, the “Minority Populations Health Promotion Act” was passed by

the state legislature; and

       WHEREAS, The majority of the diseases and conditions responsible for disabilities,

morbidity, and mortality in the state’s population can be directly attributable to unhealthy

lifestyles and behaviors such as smoking, inactivity, poor nutrition, substance abuse, unsafe sex,

and inadequate use of preventative health services; and

       WHEREAS, Racial and ethnic minorities in Rhode Island (African-Americans, Native

Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Pacific Islanders) experience disproportionate rates of death

and preventable illness from conditions such as HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, cardiovascular

diseases, cancer, diabetes, homicides and unintentional injuries; and

       WHEREAS, Increased health information, education risk reduction activities, and access

to high quality health care within racial and ethnic minority communities can lead to a reduction

in the disproportionate rates of death and preventable illnesses among racial and ethnic minority

communities; and

       WHEREAS, Promoting cultural and linguistic competency in the health care system can

lead to improved health status of racial and ethnic communities; and

       WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health has identified the elimination of

health disparities as one of its overarching goals; and

       WHEREAS, There is a need to institute a health promotion and disease prevention public

awareness campaign, targeting racial and ethnic minority communities; now, therefore be it

       RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims the month of April to be “Minority Health and Health

Disparities Month” in the State of Rhode Island. We encourage all the citizens of the state to

recognize the importance of improving the health of all our citizens.

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LC02995

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